Terell Stafford

Whentrumpeter Terell Stafford last came to SJW to teach and perform, he was instantly one of the favorites among SJW students. His brilliant playing and astonishing jazz chops were of course part of the reason. But Terell’s warmth and openness and his amazing capacity to listen made a huge difference in the lives of many SJW musicians. We’re thrilled to have him back in 2023!

The acclaimed trumpet player is based in New York, and has been hailed as “one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player” by piano legend McCoy Tyner. Terell is recognized as an incredibly gifted and versatile player, he combines a deep love of melody with his own brand of spirited and adventurous lyricism. He’s exceptionally expressive and his well-defined musical talent allows him to dance in and around the rich trumpet tradition of his predecessors while making his own inroads.

Since the mid-1990’s, Terell has performed with groups such as Benny Golson’s Sextet, McCoy Tyner’s Sextet, Kenny Barron Quintet, Frank Wess Quintet, Jimmy Heath Quintet and Big Band, Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra, Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Alumni Band. John Clayton invited Terell to perform with the Clayton Brothers Quintet and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, with which he performed on Diana Krall’s Grammy-nominated From this Moment On (2006).

Stafford is a longtime member of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, who were awarded a Grammy in 2009 for Best Large Ensemble, for Live at the Village Vanguard. Terell can be heard on over 130 albums including his own, BrotherLee Love, Celebrating Lee Morgan, which received a 47th Annual NAACP Image Award nomination. His most recent album, Family Feeling, is a BCM&D release.

Terell is the Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies at Temple University, founder and band leader of the Terell Stafford Quintet, and Managing and Artistic Director of the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia (JOP). He is renowned in the jazz world as an educator, performer and leader and has received countless award nominations and accolades.